Oh baby, we are in for a treat on Saturday Night. It’s all going down in Fort Collins, as the Rams host the Buffaloes for a little in-state rivalry game as Colorado State hosts Colorado. The Rocky Mountain Showdown is always an exciting matchup, but last year especially was quite the thriller, so let’s take a little trip down memory lane.
Colorado vs Colorado State Last Year
It took 2 Overtimes to decide a winner, but eventually the Colorado Buffaloes came out on top, despite being 3 TD favorites to start the game. Both teams started out red hot, with the score tired at 14 after one quarter. Touchdowns included an 80 yard pick 6 by Shilo Sanders, a 30 yard WR pass by the Rams, and a 45 yard fumble return as well. The 2nd quarter was much lower scoring, as CSU went into the locker room up 21-14. Travis Hunter was also injured and did not return.
The 3rd quarter was completely scoreless, but things game alive int he 4th. Colorado State extended their lead to 11 points with just over 11 minutes left in the game. However they watched it dwindle Colorado scored a touchdown with a successful two point conversion with 36 seconds left in the game to sent it to OT. After trading TDs in the 1st Overtime, the Buffaloes won it in the 2OT, ending the 43-35 thriller.
The reason I bring up last year’s game in so much detail is because teams are returning several of their key players. The Rams return QB Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi who has 367 yards for 3 TDs and 3 INTs and WR Tory Horton who led all receivers with 16 catches for 133 yards and a TD. Defensively, the Rams will return 2 veteran safeties and a 3rd year starting DB, along with a pair of linebackers. While the D-Line is fresh, Colorado doesn’t run the ball anyways.
Now, with the Buffaloes be able to pull off a rivalry win two years in a row? Or will the Rams get their sweet revenge at home?
Colorado vs Colorado State: Rocky Mountain Showdown
Travis Hunter only played a quarter last year against Colorado State
Matchup Information – Colorado vs Colorado State
- Venue & Location: Canvas Stadium (Fort Collins, CO)
- Date: Saturday, September 14th, 2024
- Kick Off: 7:30pm Eastern
- Broadcast: CBS
Betting Odds
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Spread
- Colorado -7 (-112)
- Colorado State +7 (-108)
Money Line
- Colorado -265
- Colorado State +225
Total
- Over 58.5 (-105)
- Under 58.5 (-115)
Rams Look for Revenge at Home
Can Colorado State take down “Big Brother” this weekend?
Alright, I’m not quite done with memory lane. The Colorado Buffaloes were 23.5 point favorites in that game. They should’ve lost, but somehow pulled off a miraculous comeback victory. And you know what? Even I was a little happy for them…
And then they stormed the field.
You would’ve thought this team won the National Championship. Students flooded onto the turf, players were jumping around, flexing their wrists, screaming expletives at the opposing players (probably). It was a free-for-all, an absolute madhouse, and personally, I found it odd that Colorado was celebrating an 8 point victory while they were projected to win by 3 times as much. Now, Colorado State returned a large majority of their starters from last season, so all of them remember this game vividly.
And now they get a shot at revenge on their home turf. Yes, they put up a stinker at Texas in Week 1, but it’s Texas. Colorado is nowhere near the same playing field as the Longhorns. The Buffaloes were certainly exposed to a solid defense in a hostile environment last weekend in Lincoln, and I expect nothing different when facing Colorado State. Sure, they couldn’t stop Texas, but I have a feeling this secondary will be able to disrupt Sanders and the Buffaloes offense.
Sanders threw for 348 yards and 4 TDs with just 1 INT in this game last year, but he couldn’t get it done last week. Against Nebraska on the road, he had just 244 yards and 1 TD, including a really bad pick 6 early in the game. Hunter led all receivers with 110 yards on 10 catches, and he will certainly have to have another big game for the Buffaloes to find success.
Overall, the Rams have had this game circled for nearly an entire calendar year. They lost in double OT on September 16th last year in Boulder, and now on Saturday, September 14th they will get to enact their revenge. And I think they do just that.
Colorado vs Colorado State Best Bets
Tory Horton was offered six figures to leave Colorado State this offseason
Colorado vs Colorado State Prediction: Colorado State Wins, Under 58.5
Best Bets: Colorado State +7 (-108) BetOnline
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We’ve faded Colorado on the spread twice this season, and it’s cashed with ease both times. Why stop now? I’ll admit, I wish I snagged the hook earlier this week, but the Rams will certainly keep this game within a touchdown. I’ve got to give props to the Colorado defense, who ended up shutting down the Huskers in the 2nd half, but it was never enough. Despite the Rams offensive struggles against the likes of Texas, I have faith in them to produce some points at home against a Buffaloes defense that is allowing 27 points per game and nearly 400 yards to opposing offenses.
If you’re Colorado State, this is your Super Bowl. You should’ve beat Big Brother last year, and ultimately gave away the game. This year, you get them on your turf, in front of your crowd, with players that are more than capable of getting the job done. I trust Jay Norvell to have his boys fired up, because if the Rams were to win one game all year, they’d make sure it’s this one. Give me Colorado State to cover the TD with ease, and we will also put a half unit on them outright.
Nobody storms a field or court for no reason and gets away with it.
Bonus Bets: Colorado State ML (+225) BetOnline
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